Surface treatment apparatus rotational speed indicator user interface

ABSTRACT

A surface treatment apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an agitator, an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate, a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated, a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path, a user interface (UI), and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path, adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor, and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to surface treatment apparatus user interface (UI) and more specifically related to a surface treatment apparatus rotational speed indicator UI.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Surface treatment apparatuses can include upright vacuum cleaners configured to be transitionable between a storage position and an in-use position. Upright vacuum cleaners can include a suction motor configured to draw air into an air inlet of the upright vacuum cleaner such that debris deposited on a surface can be urged into the air inlet. At least a portion of the debris urged into the air inlet can be deposited within a dust cup of the upright vacuum cleaner for later disposal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic example of a vacuum cleaner, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic example of a vacuum cleaner surface cleaning head assembly incorporating a light bar, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the light bar assembly of the vacuum cleaner surface cleaning head assembly of FIG. 2 , consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an example cross-sectional view of an upright section of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 containing a debris sensor, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for adjusting a surface treatment apparatus UI based on rotational speed of suction motor, the agitator motor, or both.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is generally related to a surface treatment apparatus rotational speed indicator UI. An example of the surface treatment apparatus may be a vacuum cleaner having an agitator configured to agitate/dislodge debris adhered to a surface to be cleaned (e.g., a floor) from the surface to be cleaned, an agitator motor configured to rotate the agitator, a dust cup configured to collect debris from the surface to be cleaned, and a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated into the dust cup via a dirty air path. An operational mode of the vacuum cleaner can be based, at least in part, on the determined amount of debris being collected. For example, suction power, which is proportional to the rotational speed of the suction motor, may be based, at least in part, on the amount of debris being collected.

There exists a need for a user of the surface treatment apparatus to determine the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both, while using the surface treatment apparatus without the user having to look away from the surface being treated. Disclosed herein is a surface treatment apparatus incorporating a UI that indicates to the user the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both. It should be noted that the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both, may further indicate the amount of debris being collected, since the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both may be adjusted based on a debris sensor in the dirty air path of the surface treatment apparatus.

The rotational speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor (in revolutions per minute, or RPMs) are adjusted based on the amount of debris detected by a debris sensor that monitors the dirty air path of the surface treatment apparatus. When more debris is detected, the rotational speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor are increased accordingly; when less debris is detected, the rotational speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor are decreased accordingly. The rotational speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor may, therefore, indicate the amount of debris in the dirty air path of the surface treatment apparatus.

Another method of indicating the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both, to the user by a surface treatment apparatus is to adjust the output of a display, e.g., a light bar consisting of a series of light emitting diodes (LEDs), based on the outputs of the debris sensor. The debris sensor, however, typically changes very rapidly, and when these rapid changes are directly coupled to the display, the display will also change very rapidly, which is perceived by a user as flickering. Many users may find this flickering distracting.

The present disclosure avoids the problem of flickering by using the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both, to control the UI (e.g., a light bar). Since the rotation speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor change at a rate much slower than the output of the debris sensor, using the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both dampens the change in the UI and avoids the problem of a flickering display. In addition, since the change in the rotational speed of the suction motor, the agitator motor, or both, result in a proportional change in the noise level of the surface treatment apparatus, both the audio (motor sounds) and the visual (e.g., light bar display) will change concurrently, giving the user simultaneous audio and visual feedback.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic example of a vacuum cleaner 100. As shown, the vacuum cleaner 100 includes a surface cleaning head 102, an upright section 104 which may be pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head 102, and a vacuum assembly 106 coupled to the upright section 104. The vacuum assembly 106 can include a suction motor 108 (shown in hidden lines) and a dust cup 110, each being fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head 102, wherein the suction motor 108 is configured to cause air to be suctioned into the surface cleaning head 102, thereby causing debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated. The surface cleaning head 102 can include one or more agitators 112 (e.g., a brush roll) configured to engage a surface to be cleaned 114 (e.g., a floor).

The vacuum cleaner 100 also includes UI 116, e.g., a light bar, coupled to the surface cleaning head 102, and air inlet 118, which is the inlet for dirty air path 122. The dirty air path 122 is a passageway within the vacuum cleaner 100 that allows for the transfer of debris suctioned from the surface to be cleaned 114 via air inlet 118 into the dirt cup 110. In some other embodiments, the UI 116 may be coupled elsewhere on vacuum cleaner 100.

The vacuum cleaner 100 can include a controller 120 (shown in hidden lines) communicatively coupled to a debris sensor 124, the UI 116, and the suction motor 108. The controller 120 is configured to adjust the rotational speed of the suction motor 108, the agitator motor 126, or both, by, for example, varying the electrical current provided to the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126 by a power source (not shown) based on the amount of debris detected by the debris sensor 124.

In some embodiments the UI 116 is a light bar consisting of LEDs. In some embodiments, the LEDs in UI 116 are sequentially illuminated based on the rotational speed of the suction motor 108, such that as the rotational speed of suction motor 108 is increased, the next LED in the sequence is turned on until all the LEDs are illuminated when the rotational speed of the suction motor 108 increased above a predetermined threshold. Likewise, as the rotational speed of suction motor 108 decreases, each LED in the sequence is turned off starting with the last LED that was turned on, until all the LEDs are off when the rotational speed of the suction motor 108 drops below a predetermined threshold. In some other embodiments, the intensity of the LEDs in UI 116 is adjusted based on the rotational speed of the suction motor 108, wherein a higher rotational speed from the suction motor 108 will cause a higher intensity illumination in the LED light bar. In yet other embodiments, the color of the LEDs in UI 116 is adjusted based on the rotational speed of the suction motor 108.

FIG. 2 is a schematic example of a vacuum cleaner surface cleaning head assembly incorporating a light bar, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a top view example of the surface cleaning head 102 from vacuum cleaner 100 from FIG. 1 . The top view of FIG. 2 more clearly illustrates the UI 116, e.g., a light bar. Also shown, for reference, is the position of the upright section 104.

FIG. 3 is an example exploded view of the light bar assembly 300 of the vacuum cleaner surface cleaning head assembly 102 of FIG. 1 , consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 , UI 116 is comprised of a UI cover 302, a mylar strip 304 covering light pipe 306, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCB A) 308, which contains components 310. Components 310 may include a plurality of LEDs, the circuitry to power the LEDs, and the circuitry to control the LEDs. As discussed above in FIG. 1 , the UI 116 is communicatively coupled to the controller 120 and receives signals from the controller 120 to control the output display of UI 116 based on the rotational speed of the suction motor 108 and the speed of agitator 112.

FIG. 4 is an example cross-sectional view of an upright section 104 of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 containing a debris sensor, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 4 , the debris sensor is an infrared (IR) optical sensor, which detects the amount of debris based in the dirty air path 122 based on a quantity of the IR light that is received by IR receiver 402 versus the quantity of IR light that is transmitted by IR transmitter 404. Both IR receiver 402 and IR transmitter 404 are protected by IR sensor covers 406. While the example debris sensor of FIG. 4 is an IR optical sensor, any other type of debris sensor may be used as would be known to one skilled in the art.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 500 for adjusting a surface treatment apparatus UI based on rotational speed of the suction motor 108, the agitator motor 126, or both. The method 500 may be embodied in any one or more of software, firmware, and/or hardware. For example, the method 500 may be embodied as software configured to execute on the controller 120 of FIG. 1 . Although a single cycle of the method 500 is shown below for illustrative purposes, it should be understood that the method 500 repeats continuously as long as the surface treatment apparatus, e.g., the vacuum cleaner 100, is in operation.

As shown, the method 500 commences when, for example, the vacuum cleaner 100 is powered on. The method 500 may include a step 502. The step 502 includes receiving a signal indicative of the amount of debris in the dirty air path 122 of the vacuum cleaner 100. For example, and as shown, the signal may be received from the debris sensor 124.

The method 500 may also include a step 504. The step 504 includes adjusting the rotational speed of at least one of the suction motor 108 or the agitator motor 126. The rotational speed of the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126 may be adjusted by signaling a power supply for each of the motors to supply a current that causes each motor to rotate at the desired rotational speed. It should be noted that to achieve the desired rotational speed, the current required by the suction motor 108 and the current required by the agitator motor 126 may be different.

The method 500 may also include a step 506. The step 506 includes adjusting the UI 116 based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor 108 or the agitator motor 126. For example, the UI 116 may receive an indication of the rotational speed for either the suction motor 108, the agitator motor 126, or both, and adjust the output of the UI 116 based on either or both rotational speeds. In another example, the UI 116 may receive an indication of the rotational speed for both the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126, and may select either the suction motor 108 or the agitator motor 126 to use as the basis for adjusting the UI 116.

In some embodiments, the step 506 may adjust the UI 116 based on the rotation speed of both the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126. The UI 116 may receive an indication of the rotational speed for both the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126 and adjust the output of the UI 116 based on the rotational speed of both motors, for example, by averaging the rotational speed of both the suction motor 108 and the agitator motor 126 and using the average rotational speed to adjust the UI 116.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is thus provided a surface treatment apparatus. The apparatus includes: a surface cleaning head having an agitator, an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate, a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated, a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path, a user interface (UI), and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path, adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor, and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes: a surface cleaning head having an agitator; a dust cup fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head; a suction motor fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head; an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate; a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path; a user interface (UI); and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path; adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor; and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a surface treatment apparatus. The apparatus includes: a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated; a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path; a user interface (UI); and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path; adjust a rotation speed of the suction motor; and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of the suction motor

While the present disclosure has discussed a rotational speed indicator UI for a surface treatment apparatus using an upright vacuum cleaner, other surface treatment apparatuses may be used. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a robotic cleaner, a handheld cleaner, a cannister vacuum cleaner, and/or any other type of cleaner.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surface treatment apparatus comprising: an upright section; a surface cleaning head having an agitator, the surface cleaning head being pivotally coupled to the upright section; an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate; a vacuum assembly coupled to the upright section, the vacuum assembly including a dust cup and a suction motor, the dust cup and the suction motor being fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head; a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path; a user interface (UI) coupled to the surface cleaning head, the UI includes at least a first light source and a second light source; and a controller configured to: receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path; adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor based on the signal indicative of the amount of debris in the dirty air path; and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor by: illuminating the first light source and disabling the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds a first motor rotation speed threshold while being less than a second motor rotation speed threshold; and illuminating the first light source and the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds the first and the second motor rotation speed thresholds.
 2. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor comprises: adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of both the suction motor and the agitator motor.
 3. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debris sensor is an infrared (IR) optical sensor.
 4. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the IR optical sensor further comprises: an IR transmitter configured to transmit IR light; and an IR receiver configured to output the signal based on a quantity of the IR light received by the IR receiver.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor are controlled by adjusting a current supplied to the suction motor and the agitator motor.
 7. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debris sensor is located within the dirty air path.
 8. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a surface cleaning head having an agitator; a dust cup fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head; a suction motor fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head; an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate; a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path; a user interface (UI) coupled to the surface cleaning head, the UI includes at least a first light source and a second light source; and a controller configured to: receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path; adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor based on the signal indicative of the amount of debris in the dirty air path; and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor by: illuminating the first light source and disabling the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds a first motor rotation speed threshold while being less than a second motor rotation speed threshold; and illuminating the first light source and the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds the first and the second motor rotation speed thresholds.
 9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor comprises: adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of both the suction motor and the agitator motor.
 10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the debris sensor is an infrared (IR) optical sensor.
 11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the IR optical sensor further comprises: an IR transmitter configured to transmit IR light; and an IR receiver configured to output the signal based on a quantity of the IR light received by the IR receiver.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the rotation speed of the suction motor and the agitator motor are controlled by adjusting a current supplied to the suction motor and the agitator motor.
 14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the debris sensor is located within the dirty air path.
 15. A surface treatment apparatus comprising: a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated; a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path; a surface cleaning head having an agitator; a user interface (UI) coupled to the surface cleaning head, the UI includes at least a first light source and a second light source; and a controller configured to: receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path; adjust a rotation speed of the suction motor based on the signal indicative of the amount of debris in the dirty air path; and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of the suction motor by: illuminating the first light source and disabling the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds a first motor rotation speed threshold while being less than a second motor rotation speed threshold; illuminating the first light source and the second light source when the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor exceeds the first and the second motor rotation speed thresholds.
 16. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the debris sensor is an infrared (IR) optical sensor.
 17. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the IR optical sensor further comprises: an IR transmitter configured to transmit IR light; and an IR receiver configured to output the signal based on a quantity of the IR light received by the IR receiver.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rotation speed of the suction motor is controlled by adjusting a current supplied to the suction motor.
 20. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the debris sensor is located within the dirty air path. 